Oxfordshire NUT is organising a professional development day for Thursday January 19th 2017 led by Professor Barry Carpenter on ‘Decoding Mental Health –promoting positive emotional well-being.’

Barry is a well-known international speaker on mental health and special educational needs. The day will be held at the Kassam Stadium, near Oxford and will be suitable for those working with young people in all phases.

Commenting on reports that the Prime Minister is considering the expansion of new grammar schools, Kevin Courtney, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said:

"Theresa May's plans for new grammar schools are a regressive move and a distraction from the real problems facing schools and education. Teacher retention and recruitment is at dangerously low levels, assessment is in disarray and insufficient school funding is impacting on the quality and range of educational experiences teachers can offer students. These are the issues that need addressing, not a return to an archaic idea that has been roundly rejected for decades.

As a parent of two children at schools in Oxford, I am fully supportive of NUT campaigns. Teachers work so hard to deliver high quality education to our children and I am very clear that good education is a right, not a privilege. – Tracy Walsh, parent.

The NUT in Oxfordshire has been at the forefront in drawing attention to the threats our children face if education reforms continue to favour the privileged few. Every child should have access to a qualified teacher, and a school which champions the interests of every child, irrespective of postcode, parentage or perceived academic potential. – Chris Davis, parent.